Hi everybody
Simple question for you: a project I am working on, requires an inspection of the sewer line. The inspector mentioned doing a ball test (presumebly checking for slope and or sags in the line). I checked in a building code book and it referrs to a “ball, dense enough not to float, at least 2” diameter. I want to get a ball like this to ensure there are no problems, before the inspector comes back to do the test. Does anyone know what type of ball is required and if it is a special ball, where can I buy it. My local plumbing place has lots of test items but not this ball.
Thanks guys
Stemreno
Replies
Try a que ball. Don't have one handy to measure the diameter but it sure is dense.
I've talked to a lot of local plumbers and inspectors and NO ONE here in NE FL uses the ball test. Some of the plumbers didn't know what the test was.
Some of them do know how to use a laser and target and when putting in gravity and force mains shoot right down the inside of the pipe from point to point. Otherwise it's a torpedo level and hope for the best.
Edited 2/16/2007 11:21 pm ET by RalphWicklund
that old school inspector is screwing with ya...
in days gone by a cue ball was used....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Edited 2/16/2007 11:19 pm by IMERC
Is it possible that he is referring to a water test done with an inflatable test ball? We are required to insert an inflatable test ball at the point where the sewer line exits the bldg via a test tee and fill the area up-stream of the ball to 20" above the flood level overflow of the highest fitting after plugging all the traps and drains of course. If we are installing an expensive tub after the tile is done we need to do it twice, once for insulation and again after the final tub is installed.
Hi
I know about the water test, already have done that test, and with other jobs, that has been the only testing done. I will have to wait until he is back from holidays (Cancun) to find out for sure, I guess. He wanted me to fix another problem in the plumbing that I didn't origionaly do. Any how, thanks for the fast responses and I'll let you know what goes on.
Stemreno
i guess you know it didn't pass if you have to get the roto rooter guy out to retrieve the ball. lol. i had never heard of this. around here you just leave the sewer uncoverd and insp. takes a look. if he was to question the slope i supose a guy would have to put a laser on it and prove it.
i have always wonderd how a sewr line looked 2 years after it has settled in,i would guess that there would be a few dips. larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
Is the line burried?
Is it new or exsisting?
What code is in play--- UPC, IPC, IRC etc..........
“A universal peace, it is to be feared, is in the catalogue of events, which will never exist but in the imaginations of visionary philosophers, or in the breasts of benevolent enthusiasts.” —James Madison